Violin.



PATENTED APR. 16, 1907. I- A. NORTHROP. I

VIOLIN. APPLICATION FILED mama, 1906.

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. PATENTED APR. 16, 1907.

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VIOLIN.

APPLICATION TILED 1.9.2.26, 1906.

I. A. NORTHROPL r//////////////// 1///Z7/l 2/3/26 ATTES (aw ML IRVIN A. NORTHROP, OF MEDINA, OHIO.

VIOLlN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 16, 1907.

Application filed March 26,1906. Serial No. 807,974.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IRvIN A. N ORTHROP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Medina, in the county of Medina and State. of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Violins; and I do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in violins and the invention consists in a violin provided with an attachment whereby the tone of the instrument is strengthened and mellowed, all substantially as shown and described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved instrument, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on line 00 as, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the instrument on line to to, Fig. 4 and Fig. 4: is a cross-sectional elevation, considerably enlarged, on a line corresponding to y'y, Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a plan view corresponding to line .2 2, Fig. 4.

As thus shown, 2 represents a violin; but the invention is of suoha nature that it might be used with a guitar or other like string instrument, and the violin is shown as having a neck, strings, and other features, as usual. Said violin has a hollow rectangular or other suitably-shaped body or box, substantially as seen in walls 3, which form the outlines of said body or box as a whole. A laterally and downwardly extended tapered box or box extension 5 opens at its top into one side and bottom of said body-box 3 and is divided into upper and lower chambers by division wall or plate 6. This wall or plate contains two elliptical openings 7, covered by correspondingly-shaped diaphragms 8, fastened about their edges about said holes, as hereinafter described. A connecting bar 9 is firmly engaged at its ends with said diaphragms by means of suitable studs or other equivalent means, and a tapered transmit ting member 10 extends from the bridge laterally and downward and is attached at its lower end to the middle part or ridge 0, of said connecting-bar by means, preferably, of a flexible cord or its equivalent, such as a violinstring. The said tapered transmitting mem ber 10 extends through an opening 11 in the corresponding side wall 3 of the body-box or sounding-chamber in said body defined by in fact, are all the parts and walls 3, and the bottom of said box or cham ber is open also to the bottom chamber or space inside box 5 beneath diaphragm 8. These diaphragms are of wood, preferably, as,

members comprised in the invention preferably of wood; but the invention is not designed to be limited to .the use of'any one material, though wood gives the better results.

The transmitting member 10 is supported at its upper end on a short cross-bar 12, ex tending transversely through a hole in the end of said arm and firmly secured in or upon the body 2, Fig. 2. The feet 13 of bridge 14: sit in sockets or are otherwise suitably seated in or upon the upper end of member 10, as herein shown, and said bar has a ridge 15, on which the transmitting member rests and which provides the sole rest for the bridge, and means for carrying sound therefrom.

One, two, or more diaphragms 8 may be used but to obtain a fine tone at least two are required. The shape of said diaphragms is preferably elliptical, as shown; but the shape depends more or less on the material used and its graduation in thickness, and one may be thicker than the other. The variation in thickness or size equalizes the tone produced. When these and other attendant conditions are fulfilled, such as a proper sounding relation to or with the air in the body of the instrument, a very rich, mellow, and pleasing tone is obtained throughout the entire compass of the instrument and in magnified volume as compared with the violin alone.

The diaphragms 8 are engaged and pressed upon about their edges by a device consisting of a series of superimposed rings or lamina 18, and this device is spanned by cross-bars 20 and is adapted to be pressed down more or less tightly by means of said bars 20 and the rotatable pins 22, bearing upon said bars. Cushioning-rings or gaskets 19 are mounted above and below diaphragm 8 to permit free vibration. Said pins are preferably tapered to wedge in position and have bearings 21 in the wall of box 5, and their inner ends are provided or fashioned with eccentric projec tions 23, bearing upon the bars 20, so that when said pins are turned they will tighten or loosen device 18, according to the direction of are such varying condirotation, and there tions in an instrument of this kind that a comparatively slight difference in the pressure of device 18 on the edges of the dia- IIO phragms will make a perceptible difference in the sounds obtained. The outer ends of the said eccentric-pins are flattened or angled to l afford a grip to rotate the same, and any suit able construction at this end for turning the said pins may be employed.

The horn or resonator 16 may be of the megaphone or other suitable style and is intended to sustain the relation substantially as shown at one side of the instrument and to which it may be attached at both ends. The small end is cylindrical and flanged and engaged against the round open socket 24 in the bottom and front of side box 5, Figs. 1' and 3.

Two curved sound-ducts 25 open at their top beneath diaphragms 8 and converge from an ellipse at their receiving ends to a round form, where they open or discharge into opening 24 for the horn. As herein shown, the division-wall 6 has socket-support 24 for the horn, and the sound ducts or channels 25 are formed in one piece, but not necessarily.

A bar 28 lies across the strings behind the bridge and is connected by a suitable cord or strand 29 with a tuning-pin 30 or its equivalent, and these parts control the pressure of the strings on the bridge.

Holes 32 are provided in the top of box 3.

In operation the sound-vibrations of the strings are conducted by bridge 14 through its feet to the transmitting member 10 and the connecting-bar 9, part going to one diapln'agm and part to the other through the studs 36, connecting the said bar with the diaphragms.

I/Vhat I claim is 1. In a violin or other string instrument, the combination of a body and strings and a bridge for the strings, a transmitting member projecting laterally from beneath the bridge, and a set of elliptical diaphragms connected with said member.

2. In a violin or other string instrument, the combination of a body and strings, a bridge and a transmitting member extending therefrom, a plurality of diaphragms connected with said transmitting member, separate sound-receiving chambers for said diaphragms, a horn and passages leading from said chambers to said horn.

3. In a violin or other string instrument, the body and strings and a bridge for the strings, a transmitting member for said bridge, and a set of diaphragms of different sizes connected with said member adapted to equalize the tones produced.

4. In a sound producing instrument, means to produce sound, and means to convey sound from the instrument comprising a set of diaphragms of diflerent tone-producing qualities and a transmitting member connected with said diaphragms.

5. A violin or other string instrument,

having a body with a sounding-char]rber and a laterally and downwardly extending chamber connected therewith provided with a division-wall between its upper and lower portions and an opening in said wall, a diaphragm over said opening, and a transmitter to communicate sound to said diaphragm from the strings of the instrument.

6. A violin or other string instrument, and a laterally and downwardly extending chamber at the side thereof, a wall dividing said chamber into upper and lower spaces and having an opening therein, a diaphragm over said opening, and a transmitter to carry the sound from the strings to said. diaphragm.

7. In a violin or other like instrument, a body having a laterally and downwardly extending chamber at its side subdivided into upper and lower spaces, a wall forming said subdivision having one or more openings between said spaces and a diaphragm over each opening, in combination with a sound-con veying member and connecting mechanism between said member and diaphragm, and means beneath said diaphragm to convey the sound to the outside air.

8. In a violin or other instrument, a body having a laterally and dowmvardly extending chamber tapered from said body outward and a division-wall separating the chamber into upper and lower spaces, said wall provided with one or more openings through the same, a diaphragm over each opening and a channel open beneath each diaphragm curved outward through the lower space of said tapered chamber to convey the sound to the atmosphere.

9. In a violin or other string instrument, a body having a laterally and downwardly extending sounding-chamber with a division wall substantially midway between its upper and lower portions, said wall having openings, diaphragms over said openings and sound-conveying channels connecting the said openings at their bottom and arranged to discharge to the outside atmosphere, a sound-conveying device and a bridge mechanically connected therewith, and means connecting said device with said diaphragms to transmit the sound thereto.

10. In a violin or other string instrument, a body having a sounding-chamber and a laterally and downwardly tapered supplemental chamber, a division-wall in said latter chamber having openings down through the same and sound-conveying channels connecting with the bottom of said openings, a diaphragm over each opening, a connectingbar uniting said diaphragms and a transmitting device to convey the vibrations of the instrument to said connectingb ar.

11. In a violin or other string instrument, a body and a laterally-extending and tapered sounding-chamber openly connected therewith, said chamber provided with a divisionwall between its top and bottom having openings through the same, diaphragms over said openings, a connecting-bar uniting said diaphragms and a transmitting device adapted to convey the vibrations of the instrument to said connecting-bar tapered from the instrument down to said bar and having a flexible connection with the bar.

12. In a violin or other string instrument, a body having a sounding-chamber and a laterally and downwardly extended chamber open thereto and a wall in said second chamber having openings, diaphragms over said openings, a bar connecting said diaphragms, a tapered member engaged centrally with said bar and a string-bridge supported directly upon the top of said member.

13. In a violin or other string instrument, a body having a sounding-chamber and a laterally and downwardly extending cham ber open thereto, a division-wall between the upper and lower portions of said lateral chamber having openings therethrough, sound-conveying channels from each opening to the outer air, a diaphragm over each opening and means bearing upon the edges of said diaphragms to increase or decrease the pressure thereupon according to the effect desired in the sound, and means connecting said diaphragms with the string-bridge of the instrument.

14. In a violin or other string instrument, a body having a laterally and downwardly extending chamber, a wall subdividing said chamber into upper and lower spaces, said wall having openings, diaphragms over said openings, a device laid upon the edges of said diaphragms and means to uniformly increase or decrease the pressure upon said device according to the effect desired.

15. In a violin or other string instrument, a body having a laterally and downwardly extending soundingcliamber, a wall dividing said chamber into upper and lower spaces and having openings down through the same, sound-conveying channels from said openings to the outer air, diaphragms over said openings, a series of rings engaged upon'the edges of each of said diaphragms, cross-bars resting upon said rings and rotatable means bearing upon said cross-bars and constructed to increase or decrease the pressure thereupon as said rotatable means are turned.

16. Ina violin or other string instrument, a body having a sounding-chamber extending laterally and downwardly therefrom, a division-wall dividing said chamber into lower and upper spaces and having an opening between said spaces, a diaphragm over said opening, means to convey sound from the instrument to said diaphragm, a channel extending from said opening in said wall to the outer air, and a horn to receive the sound from said channel.

17. In a violin or other string instrument, a body having a laterally and downwardly extending sounding chamber connected therewith, a wall dividing said chamber into upper and lower spaces and having a plurality of openings through the same, converging sound-conveying channels extending from said opening at the bottom of said wall and a horn to receive the sound from said channels, in combination with diaphragms over said. openings and means to communicate sound to said diaphragms from the instrument.

18. In a violin, a violin-body and strings therefor, a bridge for said strings and a trans mitter member for said bridge having an opening centrally beneath the same, and a ridged cross-bar secured upon the said body and extending transversely through said opening to provide a single rest for said member and bridge.

19. In a violin, a body and strings thereon and a transmitter member for the strings, in combination with a set of diaphragms of different thickness connected with said transmitter member, and a horn open to both said diaphragms.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

IRVIN A. NORTHROP. 

